Mailing-tube.



Patented A rj 9, [901. H. L. GRAY.

MAILING TUBE.

(Application fllexi Aug. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INV NTOR 1 ATTXJ ms PU'ERS 00,, menu-mm. m'mmcrrcn. u. 5..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER LOUIS GRAY, OF MOSOA, COLORADO.

MAILING-TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,823, dated April 9,1901.

Application filed August 27, 1900. Serial No. 28,091. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOMER LOUIS GRAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mosca, county of Oostilla, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mailing-Tubes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thereof, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved mailing-tube; and the object thereof is to provide a device of this character which is adapted for retaining legal papers, drawings, merchandise, &c., in such a secure manner that liability of accidental loss of contents is obviated, while at the same time the said contents can be readily inspected by post-office officials and removed by the receiver without danger of injury.

The device is practicable, inexpensive, and durable, and it is susceptible of reuse, if desired. V

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing my improved tube closed and ready for transportation.

vation showing the parts connected.

In the practice of my invention I employ, primarily,two tubular sections A and A,composed,preferably,of pasteboard; but any compressed fibrous substance may be employed.

These two tubular sections are of equal di-' ameter; but the tube A is considerably shorter than the tube A, and said tube A is provided with an extended split tube B, which is adapted to telescope within the tube A when the parts of the device are assembled, ready for mailing. The two edges 1) of the split tube B are normally not quite parallel with each other, whereby the diameter of the free end of said tube may be contracted to admit of readily inserting the said'tube B within the elongated tube A.

The tube Ais provided at its outer end with a crimped or rolled in wardly-turned flange a, to act as a means for strengthening the tube and to prevent accidental loss of the contents Fig. 2 is a disassembled perspective; view; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section eleof the device while it is being carried through the mails; and the outer end of the tube A is provided with a similar flange a, adapted for the same purposes. The tubes A and A are respectively supplied with fastening-tapes O and O, which are permanently secured to the inner ends of the respective tubes and adapted to be tied together on the outside by means of a bow-knot c, as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the operation and use of the device a roll of documents or otherarticle to be mailed is placed within the tube B. Said tube is then slightly contracted to admit of its being readily telescoped within the tube A, wherein it is allowed to expand and maintain frictional contact to prevent accidental removal. The tapes 0 and O are then tied together to hold the two tubes in connection with each other, or a postage-stamp, as 2, may be pasted over the joint of the tubes A and A.

To remove the contents of the device, it is simply necessary to pull upon the two tubes A and A in opposite directions, and when they are disconnected it is obvious that the contents can be readily removed from the ex- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a mailing-tube, the combination with the tube-section A of greater length,and the tubesection A, of lesser length, adapted to each other as specified, of the cleft tubular extension B, attached to the said tube-section A, and adapted and arranged to telescopically engage the said tube-section A, as described, the tapes 0 and O attached, one, to each of said tube-sections to afiord facility for tying said sections together, the flange a, in said tube-section A and the flange a, in said tubesection A, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of J uly, A. D. 1900.

HOMER LOUIS GRAY. 

